TO THE VICTORIA & GEORGE CROSS

Samuel Turner (1826-1868) was born in February 1826 in the village of Witnesham, near Ipswich in Suffolk. Sadly, very little is known about him prior to enlisting with the 1st Battalion of the 60th Rifles (later King’s Royal Rifle Corps). Turner’s battalion was stationed in Meerut, India when the Mutiny broke out in 1857.

Turner was recommended for, and awarded the VC, for his actions on the night of the 19th June 1857 during the Siege of Delhi. The enemy had launched an attack on the rear of the camp. During the attack, an officer of the Indian Service, Lieutenant Humphreys, was mortally wounded and lying in the open under heavy fire. Turner immediately rushed out to the wounded officer, and hoisted him up onto his shoulders. Turner managed to carry the man to safety despite receiving a severe sabre cut to the arm. Sadly, Humphreys died of his wounds later that night.

Turner was gazetted for the Victoria Cross on 20th January 1860, and was presented with his medal in December that year at Simla, India. Turner then took his pension and left the Army. He decided to remain in India where he became a farrier and hotel keeper in Meerut. Turner died, aged 42, on 13th June 1868, and was buried in an unmarked grave in St John’s Cemetery in Meerut. Another Indian Mutiny VC, Samuel Hill, is also buried in the same cemetery. Turner’s medals are not publicly held.